MONROE - On Monday, April 14, the Monroe Board of Public Works:
• Authorized the Engineering Department to seek bids on 2008 new sidewalk construction. Alderman Mark Coplien was the only board member to vote against the motion. Coplien told the board that where the sidewalks will have to be placed is too close to the street.
Coplien used Ace Hardware at 7 1/2 Avenue and First Street as an example. Coplien said the business is legally required to keep the sidewalk clear, but snow plows push snow from the streets onto the sidewalks. "This winter there was no way to keep them clean," he said.
Coplien said he is always in favor of repairs to sidewalks; however, he is not in favor of the policy on new sidewalks.
"It needs to be tweaked," he said.
• Authorized the Engineering Department to seek bids for 2008 sidewalk repairs.
• Authorized the Engineering Department to seek bids for 2008 curb and gutter construction on 16th Avenue.
Alderman Jan Lefevre asked how assessments were made on the upcoming reconstruction of 16th Street when no contract quotes had been accepted yet.
Engineer Supervisor Al Gerber said assessments were based on past project costs.
• Authorized Wastewater Treatment Plant Director Jerry Ellefson to seek bids for sewer and water upgrades on 16th Avenue between Fifth and Ninth streets.
• Approved a permit application to install a new driveway approach for the new Green County Justice Center. The new approach will be lined up opposite with 8 1/2 Street on Sixth Street. It allows for a single inbound lane and two outbound lanes, and is wide enough to accommodate trucks turning into or out of the lot. One outbound lane is designated for right turns only. The driveway, created as a separate entrance from the Sheriff's Department lot, is for the public coming to the center. Traffic analysis recommended a turn lane on Sixth Street for vehicles coming from the east.
• Approved the following bills for payment: Whitney Tree Service, $3,253.35 for tree removal and trim; Haas Surveying, certified survey maps (CSM), $935 for a lot along Fourth Avenue West for Badger Ethanol Plant, $735 for Fire Department proposed new station on West 17th Street and $685 for a parcel of land in the North Industrial and Business Park for Troy Ludwig.
• Accepted a quote in the amount of $111,183 and authorized the purchase of a new plow truck from Lakeside International through Monroe Truck Equipment.
• Authorized the Street Department to test drive a used 1997 rear loading garbage truck for two weeks to see if it is worth buying from the City of Beloit. The truck purchase is a 2008 budgeted item.
• Heard from resident Sheila Schultz about paying double for garbage since moving to the city in April 1994. Schultz said her home was converted from a duplex to a single-family dwelling. But she has been billed for and paying for garbage pickup for two residences, unaware of the normal charges until recently. Schultz estimates she has over paid about $1,280.
The Board asked Public Works Director Kelly Finkenbinder to figure up the overcharges and billing dates for Schultz and to return with the information at the next meeting.
• Authorized the Engineering Department to seek bids on 2008 new sidewalk construction. Alderman Mark Coplien was the only board member to vote against the motion. Coplien told the board that where the sidewalks will have to be placed is too close to the street.
Coplien used Ace Hardware at 7 1/2 Avenue and First Street as an example. Coplien said the business is legally required to keep the sidewalk clear, but snow plows push snow from the streets onto the sidewalks. "This winter there was no way to keep them clean," he said.
Coplien said he is always in favor of repairs to sidewalks; however, he is not in favor of the policy on new sidewalks.
"It needs to be tweaked," he said.
• Authorized the Engineering Department to seek bids for 2008 sidewalk repairs.
• Authorized the Engineering Department to seek bids for 2008 curb and gutter construction on 16th Avenue.
Alderman Jan Lefevre asked how assessments were made on the upcoming reconstruction of 16th Street when no contract quotes had been accepted yet.
Engineer Supervisor Al Gerber said assessments were based on past project costs.
• Authorized Wastewater Treatment Plant Director Jerry Ellefson to seek bids for sewer and water upgrades on 16th Avenue between Fifth and Ninth streets.
• Approved a permit application to install a new driveway approach for the new Green County Justice Center. The new approach will be lined up opposite with 8 1/2 Street on Sixth Street. It allows for a single inbound lane and two outbound lanes, and is wide enough to accommodate trucks turning into or out of the lot. One outbound lane is designated for right turns only. The driveway, created as a separate entrance from the Sheriff's Department lot, is for the public coming to the center. Traffic analysis recommended a turn lane on Sixth Street for vehicles coming from the east.
• Approved the following bills for payment: Whitney Tree Service, $3,253.35 for tree removal and trim; Haas Surveying, certified survey maps (CSM), $935 for a lot along Fourth Avenue West for Badger Ethanol Plant, $735 for Fire Department proposed new station on West 17th Street and $685 for a parcel of land in the North Industrial and Business Park for Troy Ludwig.
• Accepted a quote in the amount of $111,183 and authorized the purchase of a new plow truck from Lakeside International through Monroe Truck Equipment.
• Authorized the Street Department to test drive a used 1997 rear loading garbage truck for two weeks to see if it is worth buying from the City of Beloit. The truck purchase is a 2008 budgeted item.
• Heard from resident Sheila Schultz about paying double for garbage since moving to the city in April 1994. Schultz said her home was converted from a duplex to a single-family dwelling. But she has been billed for and paying for garbage pickup for two residences, unaware of the normal charges until recently. Schultz estimates she has over paid about $1,280.
The Board asked Public Works Director Kelly Finkenbinder to figure up the overcharges and billing dates for Schultz and to return with the information at the next meeting.